Could your teeth be causing your headaches?

Did you know that if your teeth don’t meet properly, when your jaws bite together, it can cause problems with your teeth, gums, the temporo-mandibular joint (TMJ) or the muscles that move your jaw?

In this blog, we look at how the way your teeth meet together can have a far-reaching effect on not only your dental health.

• Teeth – If your teeth are out of line you are more likely to experience worn and broken teeth and cracked fillings. If your teeth become very worn you may find that your teeth become sensitive and ache.
• Gums – an incorrect bite can make loose teeth and receding gums worse.
• TMJ – The TMJ is the joint which connects your lower jaw to your skull. It allows you to open and close your mouth and chew foods with ease. Clicking, grinding or pain in your TMJ, ringing or buzzing in your ears and difficulty opening your mouth can all be caused by an incorrect bite.
• Muscles – If your jaw is out of line, the muscles have to work much harder to allow you to function normally. This can lead to muscle spasm. The main symptoms are continual headaches, pain behind your eyes, sinus pain and pains in your neck and shoulders.

Treatment

There are a variety of different treatments available to help improve how your jaw bites together.

1. 1. Mouth Guard

The dentist can take impressions and create a mouth guard. These are designed to help you protect your teeth and can help to prevent clenching and grinding.

2. 2. Tooth Adjustment

Your teeth may need to be adjusted to allow you to bite together evenly. Initially the dentist will provide you with an appliance that will fit over your teeth so that when you bite on it, all your teeth meet in a position where your muscles are relaxed. You may have to wear this all the time or just at night. If the appliance relieves your symptoms then your bite may need to be corrected permanently. This can provide instant relief for some patients.

3. 3. Teeth Straightening

If your teeth are a long way out of line or in an incorrect bite position, a teeth straightening appliance may need to be used to move them into the correct position.

4. 4. Replacement of teeth

The TMJ needs equal support from both sides of both jaws to work effectively. Missing teeth may need to be replaced with a denture, bridge or implant, to provide balance to your bite.

If you are concerned your teeth may be causing your headaches, call Writtle Dental Practice on 01245 421781 and book a consultation today.